The janitor is key to cleanliness. Without a janitor,
buildings will fall into disrepair. Trash would overflow, dirt would pile up on
the floor, dust would form a thick layer on computer screens and desks, food
would rot in the fridge, and machines would never get repaired. A janitor is
responsible for so much that often we forget how crucial he or she is to the
smooth operation of the building.
Janitors have literally hundreds of job duties per day. They
remove trash, vacuum, sweep walkways, and clean and disinfect surfaces.
Removing trash and debris is important to maintaining a clean building. They
also perform heavy cleaning duties, such as removing hazardous waste or
disposing of chemicals. They check that alarm systems and sprinkler systems are
working. They may rewire systems and change batteries. Janitors also restock
depleted cleaning supplies, such as bleach, disinfectant, window cleaner, soap,
cloths, and WD-40, toilet cleaner, sponges, abrasives, and more. Other duties
include fixing faucets, painting, changing lightbulbs, replenishing cleaning
inventories, mowing lawns, trimming hedges, light painting, plastering, and
fixing heating and air-conditioning equipment. Janitors also mop and scrub
floors and disinfect bathrooms, so they are bending down a lot during their
shift, which can be hard on their back and joints.
Janitors also need to remove rodents and pests from
buildings. These animals can chew through wiring and leave droppings on the
floor, which can be hazardous to health. Janitors will set traps and wait for
the animal to be caught. Then they will quietly remove and dispose of the
animal. Regular extermination treatments
are probably necessary for any building. If the animal is very large, such as a
big snake or raccoon, the janitor may call animal control to have it removed.
The janitor may perform lots of other light duties or odd
jobs. He may be pulling weeds, landscaping, planting flowers, pruning, cleaning
sidewalks, sweeping debris, policing roofs and grounds, cleaning parking lot
drains, inspecting properties, building rounds, replacing lamps and lightbulbs,
emptying trash receptacles, hanging pictures and whiteboards, moving cars,
transporting materials, replenishing inventory, cleaning vacant lots,
installing and moving furniture, cleaning urinals and sinks, hanging doors,
replacing ceiling tiles, painting, removing graffiti, cutting keys, performing
minor irrigation repairs, cleaning the gutters, mopping floors, and patching
holes in drywall.
Landscaping work is another part of a janitor's job. They
need to keep the yard or lawn looking neat and trimmed. They mow the yard and
then use a hedge trimmer to keep the hedges neat. They pull weeds, mix and add
fertilizer, kill mosquitoes, add mulch, and pull out dead flowers and bushes.
They weed whack and add decorative touches to the landscape.
The longer a janitor works on the job, the more duties an
employer may give him or her. He may be trusted to perform building maintenance
on several different properties. Or he may supervise a set of cleaning workers
and have more autonomy. Most janitors work at night, after everyone has gone
home, although some work during the day.
